The Legacy of Loving

On June 12, 1967, the landmark decision in Loving v. Virginia overturned nearly all U.S. laws that banned interracial marriage. Several states still kept the hateful laws on their books, but more than 40 years later, coupling across color lines has become the norm. Here's a look at some famous faces who now celebrate the right to love freely.

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Mildred and Richard Loving

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The Lovings fell in love as teens and were married for nine years before their union was legally recognized. But in the couple's fight against anti-miscegenation statutes, law was secondary to love. Two years before the Supreme Court victory, Mildred told the Washington Evening Star, "We loved each other and got married. We are not marrying the state."

Captions by Saaret E. Yoseph and Tabitha Peyton Wood
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Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry

Oscar winning actress Halle Berry met her boyfriend, Gabriel Aubry, during a Versace photo shoot. She began dating the French-Canadian model in November 2005, and the couple had a daughter, Nahla Ariela Aubry, three years later. They have no plans to marry.
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Robert DeNiro and Grace Hightower

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Actor Robert DeNiro and former flight attendant Grace Hightower were married in 1997 at their home in upstate New York. DeNiro is well-known for having an eye for beautiful black women.
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Suzan-Lori Parks and Paul Oscher

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Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks is married to musician Paul Oscher. The playwright/screenwriter and bluesman married in July 2001 and have been inspiring each other ever since.

MONIQUE FIELDS: What legacy did the Lovings leave?
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Cuba Gooding Jr. and Sara Kapfer

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Academy Award-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. married his high school sweetheart, Sara Kapfer. The two met in 1986 and married eight years later. They have three children together.
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Alfre Woodard and Roderick Spencer

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Actress Alfre Woodard and writer Roderick Spencer have been married since 1983. They adopted two children, Mavis and Duncan, who both happen to be of mixed-race backgrounds.
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Kobe and Vanessa Bryant

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Kobe Bryant met Vanessa Laine when she was only 17. Less than two years later, the Lakers superstar married the former background dancer on April 18, 2001. They have two daughters.
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Quincy Jones and Peggy Lipton

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Music legend Quincy Jones and actress Peggy Lipton met in the Bahamas in 1969 while Quincy was still with his second wife Eula Andersson. The two married five years later and had daughters Kidada and Rashida before parting ways in 1990. They still remain friends.

MONIQUE FIELDS: What legacy did the Lovings leave?
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Naomi Campbell and Vladislav Doronin

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Supermodel Naomi Campbell met billionaire Vladislav Doronin at Cannes Film Festival in May 2008. The tempestuous runway diva and the Russian real estate mogul are rumored to be planning for a wedding in the near future.
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David Bowie and Iman

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British music man David Bowie married supermodel Iman Abdulmajid in 1992. The Somali-born beauty and the former Ziggy Stardust have one daughter, Alexandria Zahra "Lexi" Jones (Bowie's legal surname).
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Heidi Klum and Seal

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Model-turned-mogul Heidi Klum and musician Seal have been together since 2004. They tied the knot a year later on May 10, 2005. When the two met, Klum was pregnant with a child from her former marriage with Flavio Briatore. Seal and Klum also have two children together and one on the way -- a blended home that Klum has affectionately embraced as a "patchwork family."
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William Cohen and Janet Langhart

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Former Secretary of Defence William Cohen and TV personality-turned author Janet Langhart are a high-profile Washington couple with activities than span politics, arts and advocacy. The couple has been married for 13 years.

MONIQUE FIELDS: What Loving Means to Me
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Justin and Keisha Chambers

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The Grey's Anatomy star, better known as Dr. Alex Karev, has been married to his wife since 1993. Keisha is a former model agency booker, and Justin is a former model for Calvin Klein. The couple has five children together.
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Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren

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Golfer Tiger Woods is married to Swedish former model Elin Nordegren. The couple was introduced during the 2001 British Open when Elin was working as an au pair. They were married in Barbados on Oct. 5, 2004 and have two children.
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Robin Thicke and Paula Patton

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R&B crooner Robin Thicke and actress Paula Patton met at a teen club when they were 14. The high school sweethearts married in June 2005.
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Ice-T and Coco

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Rapper and actor Ice-T has been married to model Nicole "Coco" Austin since 2005. The two met in true hip-hop fashion on the set of a video shoot in January 2002. 'Nuff said.

MONIQUE FIELDS: Loving in Alabama
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